The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
