The latest American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power rivalry 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
