The latest American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together 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 United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee 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."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny 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 persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
