The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
