American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Anxieties of Future Greenland Acquisition.

The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "COMING."

This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global rivalry 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 look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Friction and Local Resistance

In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern 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 inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted 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 intervene about it," she observed.