Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
