The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our 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 substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 stated.
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 global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
