The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
