US Attack on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Annexation.

The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the seizure of its leader have sparked unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's base have allegedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely hours following the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further pointed out that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, earmarking a large sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying global 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 value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

In reaction to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.