The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered 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 vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
