American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Fears of Potential Greenland Annexation.

The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly focused on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.

Provocative Messages and Official Backlash

Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark 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, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically 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 declined to rule out the resorting to military force 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 described 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."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.

Expert View: A Credible Scenario?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.