US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Annexation.

Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Official Outrage

Only a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant television appearance, the leader declined to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing great-power rivalry 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 stated.

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

Growing Friction and Local Resistance

In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a joint and stern 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 nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

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