The recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint 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 nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
