The latest American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 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 international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "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 territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling 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 unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
