The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
