American Attack on Venezuela Stokes Anxieties of Future Greenland Annexation.

Recent US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the detention of its leader have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the former president's base have reportedly focused on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash

Only hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential aide, posted a suggestive image. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by single-word caption: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is also the Arctic's and our security," stated the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The diplomat further highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were further complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential resource extraction. It already houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant media interview, the leader declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid growing global rivalry 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 remarked.

He described 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."

Growing Friction and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

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 must not take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's residents desire self-rule from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare sovereignty for over a decade.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the possibility of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.