The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric 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 on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
