American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Takeover.

The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.

Provocative Posts and Official Outrage

Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant television interview, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

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

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

Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.