The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
