Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global competition 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 remarked.
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 international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern 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 overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
