The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint 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 sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
