Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours following the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also 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 guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 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 international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency 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 statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed 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 couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
