American Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Fears of Future Greenland Takeover.

The recent American strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative podcaster, 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 cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish representatives.

"We are close allies and should continue to cooperate as such. American security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and regional security. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Interests

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

Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant television interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of military force to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 remarked.

He characterized 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."

Mounting Friction and Local Opposition

In reaction to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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

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

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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