US Attack on Caracas Fuels Fears of Future Greenland Annexation.

Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have sparked unease regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast landmass in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage

Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Northern and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Administrative Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently unnerved European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a notable media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes during growing global competition 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 remarked.

He characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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 reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert View: A Plausible Scenario?

Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.