Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global competition 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 remarked.
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."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful 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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
