The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve 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 wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.