Recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
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 annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
