Greenland Takeover Could Spell Doom for NATO, Says Danish Leader
The leader of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, has voiced her concerns about a potential United States takeover of Greenland, stating that such an event could spell the end for the NATO military alliance. This statement was made in light of the renewed interest of the U.S. President in acquiring the Arctic island, known for its wealth of minerals, particularly following a recent military operation in Venezuela.
The surprise raid conducted by U.S. forces in Caracas, aimed at capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, has left the world in shock. The situation has caused heightened apprehension in both Denmark and Greenland, the latter being a semiautonomous region of the Danish kingdom and a member of NATO.
Leaders Express Disapproval
Frederiksen, along with Greenland's leader, Jens Frederik Nielsen, expressed their disapproval of the U.S. President's remarks and warned of disastrous outcomes. Several European leaders voiced their support for their stance.
"If the U.S. decides to militarily attack another NATO member, it would bring everything to a halt. This includes our NATO and the security it has provided since the end of World War II," Frederiksen explained during a broadcast.
Uncertainty Grows with U.S. Comments
The U.S. President's repeated interest in acquiring Greenland has raised eyebrows. His recent comments about discussing Greenland in 20 days have further exacerbated fears of a potential U.S. intervention.
Frederiksen added that the President's intentions towards Greenland should be taken seriously. "We will not tolerate being threatened in such a manner," she said.
During a press conference, Nielsen argued that Greenland cannot be likened to Venezuela. He encouraged his citizens to remain calm and united. "We don't foresee a sudden takeover of our country, and we want to maintain a good cooperative relationship," he said. Nielsen also emphasized that the U.S. cannot just seize Greenland.
A political journalist noted that Frederiksen's previous stance would have outright dismissed the idea of a U.S. takeover of Greenland. Now, however, the rhetoric has escalated to a level where she has to consider the possibility.
U.S. Criticizes Denmark's Security Efforts
The U.S. President also ridiculed Denmark's attempts to enhance Greenland's national security, sarcastically mentioning the addition of "one more dog sled" to the Arctic territory's defenses. "We need Greenland for our national security. Denmark won't be able to do it," he added.
However, a global security expert countered these statements, explaining that while Russian and Chinese vessels are present in the Arctic, they are too distant to be observed from Greenland, even with binoculars.
U.S. Presence in Greenland
Greenlanders and Danes were further agitated by a social media post from a former U.S. government official, which depicted a map of Greenland in the colors of the American flag, with the word "SOON" as a caption.
"We expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," responded the Danish Ambassador to the U.S.
In northwestern Greenland, the U.S. Department of Defense operates a remote space base, established following a 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the U.S. This base supports missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.
Denmark's relationship with the U.S. has been longstanding and includes the purchase of American F-35 fighter jets. Last year, Denmark's parliament approved a bill permitting U.S. military bases on Danish soil, an action criticized by many as surrendering Danish sovereignty to the U.S. This legislation expanded a previous military agreement allowing U.S. troops widespread access to Danish air bases.