Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
