Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power 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 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 Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, 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 stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
