Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
