The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power 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 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."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
