American Attack on Venezuela Raises Anxieties of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The latest US-led strike in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the vast island following the events in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage

Only a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The graphic showed Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Danish representatives.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "And yes, we expect complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

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

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

Since assuming office, the American leader has consistently alarmed European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant media interview, the president declined to rule out the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power rivalry 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful 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 picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for many years.

Expert View: A Plausible Threat?

Some experts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence conceded she had once discounted the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a couple thousand troops inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.