The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
