Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 "very small 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 response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
