American Attack on Venezuela Stokes Fears of Potential Greenland Annexation.

The recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Only hours following the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, posted a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.

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

The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy 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 island is viewed as critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable media interview, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 stated.

He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Local Opposition

In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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