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

The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated 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 Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power 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 "very small 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 response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.