The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency 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 rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
