The recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners 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 US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 stated.
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."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
