The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
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 adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally 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 pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global rivalry in the polar region. "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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern 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 picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
