American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Fears of Potential Greenland Annexation.

Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the events in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."

This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.

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

The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Moves and Strategic Interests

The situation were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 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 global security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.