The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global competition 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 "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 Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
