Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
