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

The latest American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Official Outrage

Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global rivalry 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 stated.

He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.