The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted 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 troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
