The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, 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 unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
