The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally 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, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 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."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
