American Attack on Venezuela Stokes Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Annexation.

The recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding America's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely a short time after the commencement of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television interview, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction 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 Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Military experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she observed.