The latest American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have ignited unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
