The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
