The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.
Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric 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 intervene about it," she concluded.
