The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 stated.
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 global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once 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 few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
