The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the president refused 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
