Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
