The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power competition 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful 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 complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.