American Military Operation on Caracas Raises Concerns of Potential Greenland Annexation.

Recent American military action in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited unease regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important landmass following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash

Merely hours following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

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

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

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy director focusing in defence conceded 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 couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.