American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Fears of Potential Greenland Takeover.
The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 remarked.
He described 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."
Growing Tensions and Local Resistance
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy 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.
