American Attack on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Takeover.

The latest American military action in the South American nation and the detention of its president have sparked worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members 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.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by single-word message: "SOON."

This overt threat to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"We are close allies and should keep work together as such. American security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a large amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the administration's actions, connecting it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant television appearance, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes during 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 look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Friction and Local Resistance

In reaction to this persistent "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

The prime ministers of both Greenland issued a unified and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is also scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing 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 on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.