Recent American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate 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 ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
