The latest American strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy 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 concluded.
