American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Concerns of Future Greenland Takeover.

The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Official Outrage

Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."

This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish officials.

"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

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

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?

Some experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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