Recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 remarked.
He described 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."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
