The latest American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global competition 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 characterized 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 Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
