The recent American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers 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 complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
