The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate 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 United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
