US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Fears of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island following the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests

The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during 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 cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

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

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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