The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
