The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action 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 repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global 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."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
