The recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 stated.
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."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
