US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Fears of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.
Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered 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 vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
