US Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Takeover.

Recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage

Only a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.

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

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during 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 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."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

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

The prime ministers of Denmark and 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 picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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