US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.
Recent American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 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 international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
