US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Fears of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.

The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating 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 decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power 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 remarked.

He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Friction and Local Opposition

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.