Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
