American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Potential Greenland Annexation.
The latest American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 remarked.
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 reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and 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."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
