The latest American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis 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 couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
