The recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "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 vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
