Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
