American Military Operation on Caracas Raises Anxieties of Potential Greenland Annexation.

The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast landmass following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate 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 US work together to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Local Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Credible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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