Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming 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 volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek 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 many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
