Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent 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 work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 remarked.
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 constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
