The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture 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 part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 described 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."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard 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 concluded.
