The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently 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 do anything about it," she observed.
