Recent American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have ignited worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid 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 wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny 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 reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
