US Attack on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Annexation.

The latest American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action 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 look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

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

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

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.