American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Concerns of Future Danish Territory Annexation.

The recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the vast landmass following the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash

Merely a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."

This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable television interview, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing global rivalry 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 described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

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

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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