The recent American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "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 island's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
