US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Only a short time after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."

This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Appointments and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 stated.

He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Friction and Local Resistance

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 Denmark and Greenland issued 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 residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted 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 few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.