The recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
