The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "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 joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted 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 soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
