The latest American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
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 both Greenland issued a joint 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 picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
