The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the vast island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating 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 broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "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 nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded 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 on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.