The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
