The recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Resistance
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
