The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep 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 collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
