The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern 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 inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
