US Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have sparked worry regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash

Only a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "COMING."

This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.

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

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant television appearance, the president refused to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position 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 stated.

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

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

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

The leaders of both Greenland issued a unified 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.