The recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 remarked.
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 Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
