The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, 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 over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
