American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Takeover.
The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power competition 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance
In response to this persistent "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 Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
