The recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate 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 our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
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 annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
