The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 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 international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
