Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
