The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional 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 complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global 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 Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
