Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor 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."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire 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 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 global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible 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 intervene about it," she observed.
