Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power 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 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 international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
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."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
