Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 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 international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
