Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power rivalry in the polar region. "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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
