US Attack on Venezuela Fuels Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Annexation.

Recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Followers of the former president's base have allegedly focused on the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Only a short time following the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking presidential adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the stars and stripes, accompanied by cryptic message: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to absorb the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.

"Denmark and the US are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador further highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial sum expressly for Northern and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Political Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the recent appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor 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."

After the events in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the wider "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a significant television appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of armed action to acquire 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 stated.

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."

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

In reaction to this constant "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 Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek independence for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Military analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she concluded.