The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 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 international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and 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 picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed 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 on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
