The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 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 Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful 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 picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard 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 do anything about it," she concluded.
