Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global rivalry 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
