Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also 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 North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed 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 troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
