Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
