Recent American military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire 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 over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
