The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating 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 administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global rivalry 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
