Right. A phone call to Denmark => big Naval presence.

What's the problem? Denmark would have welcomed a big Naval presence in Greenland. It benefits them too.

It should have been:

    America: can we have a big Naval base in Greenland?

    Denmark: sure. 100 year agreement?

It could have been:

    America: give us big Naval base in Greenland or we will annex you!

    Denmark: Eh... sure, are you alright?

We got:

    America: we will annex you.