Recent American strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy 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 increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying 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 praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish 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 joint and forceful statement: "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 territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
