The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global rivalry 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
