The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
