Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
