The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to 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, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern 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 complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
