American Attack on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Future Greenland Annexation.

The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed unease regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Only a short time following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Political Moves and Strategic Goals

The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment 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 serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.