The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
