Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global rivalry 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
