US Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Annexation.

The latest US-led military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."

This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.

"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

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

The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Military experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.