US Attack on Caracas Stokes Fears of Potential Greenland Takeover.
The recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island following the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 characterized 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."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
