Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
