US Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Concerns of Future Danish Territory Takeover.
The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Force
In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "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 nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert View: A Credible Threat?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
