The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
