The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power 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 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."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
