The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global 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 characterized 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."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
