Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have ignited worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together 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 work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's 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 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 overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
