American Attack on Venezuela Stokes Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.
The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global competition in the polar region. "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 "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 Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
