Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "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 picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy 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.
