American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Fears of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage

Merely hours after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 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 international security."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.