The latest American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together 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 United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous 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 Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
