The recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated 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 the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 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 global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
