The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
