The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
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 president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified 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 reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently 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 unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
