Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation 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 "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
