The recent American strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
