The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating 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 president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power 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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
