US Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Annexation.

Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Only a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."

This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of 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 remarked.

He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.