Recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full 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 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 volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
