🔗 Share this article American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Fears of Potential Greenland Acquisition. The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America. Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING." This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives. "Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North." The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added. Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals The situation were further complicated by the previous 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 unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US." After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics." Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base. Refusing to Rule Out Military Action In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power 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 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 international security." Mounting Friction and Local Resistance In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk." The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries." Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade. Analyst View: A Credible Threat? Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure." "Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.
The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America. Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING." This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives. "Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the North." The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added. Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals The situation were further complicated by the previous 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 unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US." After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics." Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base. Refusing to Rule Out Military Action In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power 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 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 international security." Mounting Friction and Local Resistance In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk." The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries." Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade. Analyst View: A Credible Threat? Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure." "Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.