Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
