The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power competition 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of 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 increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
