Recent American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" 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 "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global competition 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
