The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated 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 "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
