The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative 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, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global rivalry 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified 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 overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy director 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 inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
