US Attack on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Takeover.
Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"Denmark and the US are strong partners 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 work together to ensure security in the North."
The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power 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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.
Expert View: A Plausible Threat?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
