Recent American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 described 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 global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
