The recent American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global rivalry in the Arctic. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
