American Attack on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Potential Greenland Annexation.

The recent American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Only hours following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant media interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global 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 described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Resistance

In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

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

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?

Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.