The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 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 international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis 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 few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
