US Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Takeover.

The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the vast island following the operations in South America.

Provocative Posts and Official Outrage

Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Political Moves and Strategic Interests

The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Friction and Local Resistance

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

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

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed 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 on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.