The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
