Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global rivalry 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 stated.
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."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy 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 couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
