The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
