US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Fears of Future Danish Territory Annexation.

The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely a short time following the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."

This blatant threat to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish officials.

"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American 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 ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

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 national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling 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 cannot annex other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing 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 couple hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.