US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Fears of Future Greenland Acquisition.

The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."

This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.

"We are strong partners and should keep 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 work together to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Strategic Goals

The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition

In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.