American Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash

Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests

The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable media 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 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 Resistance

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

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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