Recent American military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate 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 ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during 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."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently 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 which power could do anything about it," she observed.
