The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
