American Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Future Danish Territory Annexation.
Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
