The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
