Recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global competition 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service 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 must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
