The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
