The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous 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 leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
