Recent American strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally 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 work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified 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 complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
