The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power competition 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 stated.
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."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed 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 unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
