American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Fears of Future Greenland Takeover.

The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

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

The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Strategic Interests

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

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

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant television interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing global competition 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Tensions and Local Resistance

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

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

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

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.