American Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The latest American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its leader have sparked worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly focused on the resource-rich island following the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Official Backlash

Merely hours following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."

This blatant threat to annex the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"We are strong partners and should continue to cooperate as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Strategic Goals

The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Since returning to office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It already houses the most northerly US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable television appearance, the president refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition

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

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint 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 vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.

Analyst View: A Plausible Threat?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.