The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
