The recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have ignited worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power 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 remarked.
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."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
