US Military Operation on Venezuela Stokes Concerns of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The recent US-led strike in the South American nation and the detention of its president have renewed unease regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the vast landmass in the wake of the events in South America.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Merely hours after the initiation of the Venezuelan operation, a prominent conservative commentator, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "COMING."

This blatant threat to absorb the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and firm criticism from Denmark's officials.

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

The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a substantial amount expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Goals

The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a volunteer capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Since returning to office, the US president has repeatedly unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is considered critically important for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant media appearance, the leader refused to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid growing global 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 remarked.

He characterized 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 Tensions and Indigenous Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Danish intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."

The prime ministers of both Greenland delivered a unified and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland reveals a nuanced sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the territory's residents desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The territory has had the option to declare independence for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Threat?

Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a move. One thinktank director focusing in military analysis conceded she had previously dismissed the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

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