The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 remarked.
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."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful 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 nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
