Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful 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 complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
