The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
