The latest American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared 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 increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power 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 global security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered 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 overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
