American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Fears of Future Greenland Annexation.

The recent American strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Official Outrage

Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."

This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were further complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power competition 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance

In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency 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 stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Threat?

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

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.