Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global competition 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 stated.
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."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued 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 reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
