The latest American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
