The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
