The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 remarked.
He described 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 Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "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 residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
