The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers 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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
