The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered 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 nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
