American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Fears of Potential Danish Territory Takeover.
The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern 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 picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
