The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
