The recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful 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 vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
