Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global 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 characterized 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 Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
