Recent American military action in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.