The latest American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents 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 declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
