The latest American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power rivalry 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
