Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
