The recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
