US Attack on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Greenland Annexation.

Recent American strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely a short time after the start of the Caracas operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals

The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power 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 stated.

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

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint 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 overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

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

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