Recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
