US Military Operation on Caracas Stokes Anxieties of Potential Greenland Takeover.

The latest US-led bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have sparked worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Members of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich island following the operations in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Outrage

Only a short time following the commencement of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a senior White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and firm criticism from Danish representatives.

"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that the kingdom had substantially increased its military budget this year, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and regional security. "Furthermore, we expect complete recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Political Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's actions, connecting it to the broader "war on drugs."

Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally important for national security and potential resource extraction. It currently hosts the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant media interview, the president declined to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying great-power competition 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 stated.

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

Growing Friction and Local Opposition

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

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

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

Analyst View: A Credible Threat?

Military experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director specializing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the rhetoric but was "now not so sure."

"It wouldn't be that hard for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand soldiers on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.