American Attack on Venezuela Raises Fears of Potential Danish Territory Takeover.
Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.
Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage
Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."
This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.
"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."
The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.
Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals
The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 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."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."
Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?
Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
