Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 stated.
He described 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 Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both 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."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted 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 couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
