Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now 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 unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
