Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power 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 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 global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and 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 nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
