Recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power competition 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "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 desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now 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 unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
