Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global competition in the polar region. "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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling 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 annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
