The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy 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 events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling 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 annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
