US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Greenland Takeover.

Recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its leader have renewed apprehension regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island following the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Official Backlash

Merely hours after the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "SOON."

This overt threat to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's actions, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is viewed as critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable media interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.