The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 remarked.
He described 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."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing 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 troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
