The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member 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 equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic 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 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now 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 do anything about it," she observed.
