The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
