US Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Fears of Future Danish Territory Annexation.

Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."

This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism 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 Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance

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

The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified 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 reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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