Recent American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global competition 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 remarked.
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."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
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 cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted 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 inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
