The recent American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US 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 North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders 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."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
