The latest American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing global competition 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
