American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Potential Greenland Acquisition.
Recent American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during 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 "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 Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst 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 few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
