US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Annexation.

Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Official Outrage

Merely a short time following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Appointments and Strategic Interests

The situation were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Ever since returning to office, the American leader 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 currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant media appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition

In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently 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 not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.