The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during 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 remarked.
He described 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 Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
