The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
