The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 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 Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both 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."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed 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 few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
