US Attack on Caracas Raises Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the events in South America.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large sum specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant television appearance, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing great-power 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 "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 Indigenous Resistance

In response to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern statement: "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 residents seek self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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