The latest American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had once 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 few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
