The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global rivalry 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 response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. 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 territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing 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 deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
