American Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Fears of Future Greenland Takeover.

Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation 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 US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals

The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global competition 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 stated.

He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

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

The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?

Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded 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 couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.