The recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’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 Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
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 both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst 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 deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
