US Attack on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Annexation.
The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.
Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash
Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."
This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.
"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Moves and Strategic Interests
The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global competition 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 stated.
He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."
The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
