US Military Operation on Caracas Raises Concerns of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

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

Provocative Messages and Official Outrage

Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and strong condemnation from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending recently, allocating a large amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is considered vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant media interview, the leader refused to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying 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 stated.

He described 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 Tensions and Local Opposition

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

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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