Recent American strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our 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 additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly 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 praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing global 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish 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 cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had previously 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 couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
