The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to rule out 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny 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 "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
