Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
