US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."

This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.

"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable media interview, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance

In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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