Recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions 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 "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
