US Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Concerns of Future Greenland Annexation.

The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash

Only hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."

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

"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to acquire 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 stated.

He characterized 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 international security."

Mounting Friction and Local Opposition

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

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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