American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.
Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, 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."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of 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 stated.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing 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 few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.