Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying 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 must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
