The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also 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 North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power 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 described 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."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "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 vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
