Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
