The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation 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 "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once 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 few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
