Recent American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic 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 president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful 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 sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted 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 on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
