American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Greenland Annexation.
Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "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 nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.