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

The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.

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

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable media appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power 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 remarked.

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

Mounting Friction and Local 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 prime ministers of Denmark and 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 reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.