The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
