Recent American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American 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 Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the president refused to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
