American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.

Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage

Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.

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

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Appointments and Strategic Interests

The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable media interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

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

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed 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 troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.