Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing global 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
