US Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Concerns of Potential Danish Territory Acquisition.

The recent American bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on the Arctic territory. Members of the former president's base have reportedly set their sights on the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in South America.

Provocative Messages and Diplomatic Backlash

Only hours following the start of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, shared a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING."

This blatant suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Denmark's representatives.

"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. US security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, allocating a large sum expressly for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we demand full recognition for the sovereign borders of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were further complicated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this representative praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the wider "fight against narcotics."

Since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed European allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The island is viewed as vitally strategic for national security and potential mineral exploitation. It already houses the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a notable media interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid 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 remarked.

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."

Growing Tensions and Indigenous Opposition

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

The leaders of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and forceful statement: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a vast majority of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."

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