🔗 Share this article American Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Anxieties of Future Greenland Acquisition. Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere. Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash Merely a short time after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON." This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials. "Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic." The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added. Political Moves and Strategic Goals The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US." Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs." Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base. Leaving the Door Open to Military Action In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny 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 constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat." The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries." Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade. Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario? Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure." "It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere. Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash Merely a short time after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON." This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials. "Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic." The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added. Political Moves and Strategic Goals The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US." Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs." Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base. Leaving the Door Open to Military Action In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny 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 constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat." The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries." Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade. Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario? Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure." "It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.