American Military Operation on Caracas Raises Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Takeover.

Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage

Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant media interview, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 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 global security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition

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

The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful 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 vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

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