American Attack on Caracas Fuels Fears of Potential Greenland Takeover.
The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 stated.
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 Tensions and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule 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 over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
