US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Potential Greenland Annexation.

The recent American military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable media interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny 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 persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The leaders of both Greenland delivered 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 complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

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

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