Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
