The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying 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 representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
