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

The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Only a short time after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."

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

"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals

The situation were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.