The latest American strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance 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 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."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
