American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Concerns of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have sparked unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.

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

The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant television interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 value them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

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

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence 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 sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously 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 which power could intervene about it," she observed.