American Attack on Venezuela Stokes Fears of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the former president's political movement have allegedly focused on the vast island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash

Only a short time following the start of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing podcaster, who is married to a senior White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered swift and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.

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

The ambassador further pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Appointments and Strategic Interests

The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

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

Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly unnerved European partners with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable media appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during intensifying great-power 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 look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Friction and Local Resistance

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

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Credible Scenario?

Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to station a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers inside of Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.