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

The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."

This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the North."

The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Strategic Interests

The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable television interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction 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 prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?

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

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.