American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Fears of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.

The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass following the events in South America.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable television interview, the president declined to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying 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."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

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

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Military analysts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.