The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
