The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US 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 ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers 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 reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, 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 over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded 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 few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
