Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
