The recent American military action in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly 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, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 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 global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously 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 few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
