The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing global 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
