The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 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 global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
