Recent American strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 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 international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and 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 shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing 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 few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
