US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash

Only a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."

This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Local Opposition

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of both Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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