The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful 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 sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had previously 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 few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
