The latest American bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to 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 US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power competition 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
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."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing 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 deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
