US Attack on Venezuela Raises Concerns of Future Greenland Annexation.

The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the vast island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."

This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and regional defence. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant television appearance, the president declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid 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 characterized Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

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 cannot take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for many years.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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