The recent American strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
