🔗 Share this article US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover. The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America. Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON." This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials. "Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North." The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized. Political Appointments and Strategic Interests The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US." Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs." Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base. Leaving the Door Open to Military Action In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 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 international security." Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk." The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries." Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire 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 independence for many years. Analyst View: A Plausible Threat? Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure." "Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.
The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America. Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON." This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials. "Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North." The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized. Political Appointments and Strategic Interests The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US." Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs." Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base. Leaving the Door Open to Military Action In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 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 international security." Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk." The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries." Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire 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 independence for many years. Analyst View: A Plausible Threat? Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure." "Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.