Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified 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 nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
