The latest American strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying 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 remarked.
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 Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered 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 shows a nuanced 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 territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once 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 soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
