Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 remarked.
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 international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once 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 on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
