The latest American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
