Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire 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 stated.
He characterized 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."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
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 leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
