The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern 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 nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
