The latest American strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong 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," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
