Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's 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 complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
