The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 "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 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 leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric 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 on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
