Recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. 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 during growing 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
