The recent American strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex 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 island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
