US Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Fears of Potential Greenland Takeover.

Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's political movement have reportedly focused on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Merely a short time after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior presidential adviser, shared a symbolic map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."

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

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Political Appointments and Strategic Interests

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

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

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to rule out the resorting to armed action 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Opposition

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

The leaders of both Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek independence for many years.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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