The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global rivalry in the polar region. "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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
