The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation 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 Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire 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 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 international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted 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 few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
