The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power competition 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 remarked.
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."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
