The recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
