Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power competition 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny 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 Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
