The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing 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 station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
