The latest American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action 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 look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
