Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global rivalry 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 stated.
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 Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
