Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global competition 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
