The latest American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate 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 United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power competition 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 remarked.
He characterized 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 global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
