The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power 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 stated.
He characterized 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 global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful rebuke: "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 nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
