The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our 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 pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global rivalry 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint 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 nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
