The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power 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 cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
