The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power competition 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued 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 picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
