The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage 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 island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
