The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power 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 global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
