The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
