The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 stated.
He described 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 Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered 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 island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
