The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently 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 which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
