The recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"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," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 stated.
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 international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern 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 vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
