Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 characterized 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 Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
