Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s 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 additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
