US Attack on Caracas Stokes Fears of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash

Merely a short time after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid 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 unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television appearance, the leader declined to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power 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 international security."

Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition

In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.