Recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "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 seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.