Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power competition 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 described 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."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
