The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during 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 remarked.
He characterized 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 global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
