Recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant 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?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
