The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative 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 praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power competition in the polar region. "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 international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
