Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
