The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
