American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Concerns of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island following the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Only hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

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

The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 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 Friction and Local Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "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 overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst focusing 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 station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.