The recent American strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power competition 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
