The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media interview, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued 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 complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible 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.
