American Attack on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Future Danish Territory Acquisition.

The latest US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have ignited worry regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's base have reportedly focused on the strategically important island following the events in the southern hemisphere.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash

Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

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

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and our 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 pointed out that the kingdom had significantly increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial sum specifically for Arctic and regional defence. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Strategic Goals

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

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

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to acquire Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying great-power 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 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."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

In response to this persistent "drumbeat" of threats, Danish security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "potential threat."

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a unified and stern statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to become part of the United States. The island has had the option to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Some analysts are increasingly re-evaluating the possibility of such a action. One thinktank director focusing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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