US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Fears of Potential Greenland Takeover.
Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash
Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing global rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."
Growing Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
