Recent American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
