American Attack on Caracas Fuels Fears of Potential Danish Territory Takeover.

Recent American military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Only a short time following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Appointments 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 thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant media interview, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 stated.

He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

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

The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.