The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
