The latest American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station 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 observed.
