The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic'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 North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
