US Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Fears of Future Greenland Takeover.

Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."

This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

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

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The leaders of Denmark and 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."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?

Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis 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 couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.