American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Fears of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Only a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The prime ministers of both 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."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.