Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 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."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also 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 Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now 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 who could intervene about it," she observed.
