Recent American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst 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 station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
