Recent American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand 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 special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and 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."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now 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 not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
