Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power 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 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 international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
