Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful 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 vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard 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 intervene about it," she observed.
