The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 remarked.
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 global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
