American Attack on Venezuela Raises Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Annexation.
Recent American strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The tensions were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power 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 global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
