The latest American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass following the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern 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 picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
