The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 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."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders 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."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
