US Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Fears of Future Greenland Annexation.
The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."
This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.
"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Interests
The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."
After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."
Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Friction and Local Opposition
In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."
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."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.
Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?
Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously 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 inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.
