The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power 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 stated.
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 Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "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 island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
