Recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming 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 role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
