The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful 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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing 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 station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
