Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing global rivalry 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
