The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power competition 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling 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 cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
