Recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power 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 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 global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
