Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish 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 joint and forceful 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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously 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 couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
