Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power competition 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced 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 declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
