The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating 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, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force 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 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 global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
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 take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
