The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid 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 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 international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
