The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also 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 Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response 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 leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
