Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "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 sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
