🔗 Share this article American Attack on Venezuela Raises Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Takeover. The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere. Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING." This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials. "We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic." The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added. Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US." Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics." Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base. Refusing to Rule Out Force In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 stated. He described 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 Local Opposition In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk." The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries." Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade. Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario? Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure." "Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.
The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere. Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING." This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials. "We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic." The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added. Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US." Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics." Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base. Refusing to Rule Out Force In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 stated. He described 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 Local Opposition In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk." The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries." Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade. Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario? Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure." "Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.