The recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency 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 statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
