The latest American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants 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 sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
