Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
