The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media interview, the president refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, 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?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
