Recent American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep 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 US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
