US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The latest American strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Official Outrage

Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also Greenland’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 Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Strategic Goals

The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable television interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 described 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 Local Resistance

In response to this constant "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 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 shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.

Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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