American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Greenland Annexation.

The recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash

Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant threat to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television interview, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing great-power 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

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