The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
