American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Potential Greenland Annexation.
The latest American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenlandâs and Denmarkâs security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global 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 weâll take care of, and weâll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing 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 station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
