American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Future Greenland Acquisition.

The recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.

"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable media interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power competition 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 "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 Local Opposition

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

The leaders of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now 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 unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.