Recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
