US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Fears of Future Greenland Acquisition.

The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage

Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

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

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant media interview, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance

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

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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