US Attack on Venezuela Raises Fears of Future Danish Territory Annexation.
Recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage
Only hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."
The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.
Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests
The situation were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.
Refusing to Rule Out Military Action
In a significant media interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The prime ministers of both 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 inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?
Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
