The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power competition 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
