The recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating 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 envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful 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 desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
