US Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Annexation.

The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass in the wake of the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Official Outrage

Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "SOON."

This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Danish officials.

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador 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 substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Political Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."

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

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying global rivalry 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 take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Local Opposition

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified 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 shows a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents seek self-rule 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 over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.