American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Fears of Potential Danish Territory Annexation.
Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 remarked.
He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
