The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance 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 described 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."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders 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 shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
