US Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Anxieties of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power competition 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 stated.

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 global security."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.