Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 described 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."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered 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 shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
