The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
