American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Concerns of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

The recent American military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."

This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The situation were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable media interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid growing 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 remarked.

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 Indigenous Resistance

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

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?

Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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