Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
