The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of military force 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now 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 intervene about it," she observed.
