The latest American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
