Recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint 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 nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.