Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 stated.
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."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders 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."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
