American Attack on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Future Greenland Takeover.

Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the vast landmass following the operations in South America.

Provocative Messages and Official Backlash

Merely hours following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "COMING."

This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.

"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

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

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Threat?

Military analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.