American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Concerns of Potential Greenland Acquisition.
The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power competition 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
