American Attack on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Annexation.
The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Official Outrage
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 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."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently 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 unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
