The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time 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 picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally 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 North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing global competition in the polar region. "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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
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 cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
