The latest American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power competition in the polar region. "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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
