Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying 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 remarked.
He described 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."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented 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 must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed 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 inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
