American Attack on Caracas Stokes Fears of Future Danish Territory Takeover.
The latest American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant media interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.
