The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
