Recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified 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 reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
