Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.