Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern 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 volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, 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 issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once 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 soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
