The recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated 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 Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing global competition 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys 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 become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
