US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Potential Greenland Takeover.

Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together 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 collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power competition 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 remarked.

He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Friction and Local Opposition

In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.

Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.