American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Future Greenland Acquisition.

Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Provocative Posts and Official Outrage

Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action 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 repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Tensions and Local Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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