US Military Operation on Caracas Raises Anxieties of Future Greenland Acquisition.

The recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash

Merely hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."

This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire 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 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."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

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."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

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