US Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Fears of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

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

This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power competition 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition

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

The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.