The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
