The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 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 global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
