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

The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared 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 pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Strategic 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 "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

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

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."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.