US Attack on Caracas Stokes Concerns of Future Greenland Annexation.

The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Outrage

Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, shared a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong condemnation from Danish representatives.

"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

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

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.