American Attack on Venezuela Fuels Fears of Future Danish Territory Takeover.

Recent American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage

Only a short time following the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."

This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

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

The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Political Appointments and Strategic Interests

The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 stated.

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 international security."

Mounting Friction and Local Opposition

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

The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for many years.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed 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 unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.