The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered 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 reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis 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 troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
