The latest American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued 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 nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence 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 independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
