Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic'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 Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling 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 must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
