The latest American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
