The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
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 work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
