Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
