The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying 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 characterized 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."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
