The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "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 seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
