The latest American military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern 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 role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
