Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic'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 North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 described 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."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
