The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
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 president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing global 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
