American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Greenland Acquisition.

The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Official Backlash

Merely a short time after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power competition 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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