US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Fears of Future Greenland Annexation.

The latest American strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash

Only hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The diplomat additionally highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable media interview, the president refused to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during 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 stated.

He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition

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

The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and forceful 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 complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?

Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.