American Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Potential Greenland Annexation.

The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash

Only hours following the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable television interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.