American Attack on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Takeover.
The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing global 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once 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 couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
