American Attack on Venezuela Fuels Fears of Future Danish Territory Takeover.
Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a notable media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 remarked.
He characterized 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 Tensions and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
