The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part 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 Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global 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 value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
