Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared 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 diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 described 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."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified 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 complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
