The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant 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 Credible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
