Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global 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 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."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern 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 picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
