The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
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 shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
