American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant media interview, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Local Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, 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 Plausible Threat?

Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard 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.