Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during 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 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 Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued 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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also 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 View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
