Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 remarked.
He characterized 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 Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint 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 complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
