American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Annexation.

Recent American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Only a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners 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 United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television interview, the president refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance

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

The prime ministers of Denmark and 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 reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.

Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.