The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent 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 "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "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 territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted 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 which power could do anything about it," she observed.
