American Attack on Caracas Fuels Concerns of Future Greenland Acquisition.

The latest American strike in Venezuela and the capture of its president have sparked apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Merely a short time after the initiation of the Venezuelan campaign, a prominent right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the cryptic caption: "SOON."

This overt threat to claim the mineral-rich region, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked immediate and firm condemnation from Denmark's representatives.

"We are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US work together to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat further pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its defence spending recently, earmarking a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were further exacerbated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The appointee had openly expressed gratitude to the president, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid role to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative commended the president's decisive move, connecting it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally important for defence and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable television appearance, the president refused to rule out the use of armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes during growing 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 remarked.

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 Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

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

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

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

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy director specializing in defence conceded she had once discounted 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 on Greenland, and it's unclear to me which power could do anything about it," she observed.