Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
