American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Fears of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The latest American strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash

Only hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.

"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s 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 increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 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."

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

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

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.