The recent American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours following the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing 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 few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
