The latest American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’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 diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 described Greenland as having a "very small 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 intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
