American Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.
Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 characterized 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 constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
