The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global 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 Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
