Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 remarked.
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."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders 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 reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence conceded 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 couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
