American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.

The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours following the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power competition in the polar region. "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."

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.