🔗 Share this article US Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition. The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America. Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage Only hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING." This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials. "Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North." The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized. Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US." Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics." Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base. Leaving the Door Open to Military Action In a notable television interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security." Mounting Friction and Local Resistance In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk." The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries." Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade. Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario? Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure." "It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.
The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America. Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage Only hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING." This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials. "Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North." The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized. Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US." Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics." Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base. Leaving the Door Open to Military Action In a notable television interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security." Mounting Friction and Local Resistance In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk." The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries." Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade. Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario? Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure." "It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.