American Military Operation on Caracas Raises Concerns of Future Greenland Annexation.
The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action 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 remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
