The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners 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. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 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 international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling 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 annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
