Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently 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 observed.
