Recent American strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and 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 nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
