Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now 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 unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
