American Attack on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely hours after the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, accompanied by cryptic caption: "COMING."

This overt threat to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish representatives.

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

The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "And yes, we demand complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to work in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the president's decisive move, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as critically important for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant media appearance, the leader declined to exclude 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance

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

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is also little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for many years.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some analysts are increasingly reconsidering the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she concluded.