US Attack on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Takeover.
Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
