The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power competition 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" 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 joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently 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 observed.
