Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power 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 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."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "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 vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
