Recent American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American 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 work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves 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 serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
