US Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Fears of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Only a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position 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 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."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Opposition

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

The leaders of both Greenland delivered 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 reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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