American Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Annexation.

The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Provocative Messages and Official Outrage

Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

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