The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power competition 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex 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 simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy 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 concluded.
