The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, 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 emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 stated.
He described 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."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's 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 stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
