Recent American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global rivalry 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction 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 both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
