US Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Future Greenland Acquisition.
The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.
"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming 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 work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Local Resistance
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary 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 must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?
Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
