The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance 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 remarked.
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."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
