Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US 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 guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers 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 take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst specializing 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 station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
