American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.
The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American 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 Arctic."
The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
