The latest American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified 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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
