The latest American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president refused to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 characterized 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."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
