The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
