US Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Potential Greenland Annexation.
Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.
Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash
Only a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."
This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our 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 ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."
Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.
Leaving the Door Open to Military Action
In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."
Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition
In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.
Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?
Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis 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 few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
