Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint 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 picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
