US Military Operation on Venezuela Raises Anxieties of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

Recent US-led strike in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited unease regarding America's designs on Greenland. Members of the ex-president's base have allegedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Merely hours after the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should continue to cooperate 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 work together to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, allocating a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we demand full respect for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals

The situation were additionally exacerbated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant television interview, the leader declined to rule out the resorting to military force to gain control of 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 stated.

He characterized Greenland as having a "tiny 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 intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

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

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to become part of the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Credible Threat?

Military analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed the sabre-rattling 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 inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.