American Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The recent American military action in the South American nation and the capture of its president have ignited worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a suggestive map. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."

This blatant threat to annex the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally 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 Arctic."

The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a large sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is considered critically strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television interview, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global competition 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 take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Local Opposition

In response to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "security risk."

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no appetite to join the United States. The island has had the option to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One policy director focusing in military analysis admitted she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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