The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve 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 "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically 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 appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 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 global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" 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 must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now 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 unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
