🔗 Share this article US Attack on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Takeover. The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere. Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage Merely hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING." This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives. "We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic." The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added. Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US." After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics." Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base. Leaving the Door Open to Force In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during 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 stated. He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security." Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat." The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries." Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade. Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario? Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure." "Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.
The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the events in the southern hemisphere. Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage Merely hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING." This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives. "We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic." The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added. Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US." After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics." Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base. Leaving the Door Open to Force In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during 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 stated. He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security." Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat." The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries." Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade. Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario? Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure." "Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.