US Military Operation on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The latest US-led strike in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important landmass following the events in South America.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Only a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known conservative commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a suggestive map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and strong condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"We are strong partners and should continue to work together as such. US security is equally 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 Arctic."

The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Appointments and Strategic Goals

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to work in a volunteer capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

After the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since assuming office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global 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 stated.

He described Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

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

The prime ministers of both 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 shows a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Copenhagen, there is also scant desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for many years.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Military experts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank director specializing in military analysis conceded she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

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