The recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position 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 "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 Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
