The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation 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, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global competition 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 "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 Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling 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 must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
