The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 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 international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
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 cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
