The recent American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 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 international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern 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 picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
