US Attack on Venezuela Raises Fears of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.
The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified 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 overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant 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 analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously 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 few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
