Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, 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 forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted 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 few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
