The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
