The latest American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
