Recent American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," 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 appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying 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 actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during 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 international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
