The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
