US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Future Greenland Annexation.

Recent US-led military action in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have allegedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television interview, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 stated.

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

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Some experts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.