US Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.
Recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage
Only hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.