The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
