The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
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 shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing 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 couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
