The latest American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed 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 on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
