The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
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 nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
