US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.

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

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.