American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Annexation.

Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

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

The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

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

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

Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, 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 both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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