The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity 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 wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 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 global security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
