The latest American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. 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 resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish 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 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 sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
