Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local 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 leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed 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 not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
