The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power competition 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" 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 both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing 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 deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
