US Attack on Caracas Fuels Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Only hours after the initiation of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."

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

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable media interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power rivalry 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Local Opposition

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

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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