The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 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 Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
