Recent American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power competition in the polar region. "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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric 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 unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
