US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.

Recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in South America.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Only hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Strategic Goals

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

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

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance

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

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed 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 couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.