Recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions 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.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern 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 island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
