The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power competition 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
