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

The recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the operations in South America.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic'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 North."

The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending 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.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global 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."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" 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 issued a unified and stern rebuke: "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 sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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