American Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.
The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in South America.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."
This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both 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."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis 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 troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
