Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power competition 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" 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 delivered 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 complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
