The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 remarked.
He described 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 Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
