The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
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 president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance 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 look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once 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 troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
