American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Fears of Potential Danish Territory Takeover.

The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the operations in South America.

Provocative Posts and Official Outrage

Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This overt threat to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate 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 work together to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Goals

The situation were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Friction and Local Resistance

In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.