Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
