The latest American military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally 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 diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative 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 envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed 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 troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
