US Military Operation on Caracas Raises Anxieties of Future Greenland Acquisition.

Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Official Backlash

Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the president's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."

Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant media appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing global 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 "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 Indigenous Opposition

In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary 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 cannot take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.