The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
