Recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
