Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders 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 shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
