The recent American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
