Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important island following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We 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. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power competition 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 stated.
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."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military 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."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
