The latest American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard 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 intervene about it," she observed.
