US Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Fears of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.

The recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash

Merely hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing global rivalry 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 stated.

He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?

Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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