Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
