The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated 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 additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented 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 annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
