American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Anxieties of Future Greenland Annexation.

The latest American strike in the South American nation and the capture of its president have sparked worry regarding America's designs on the Arctic territory. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the resource-rich landmass following the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Posts and Official Backlash

Only hours after the commencement of the Caracas operation, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is married to a high-ranking presidential adviser, posted a suggestive image. The graphic showed Greenland covered in the American flag, accompanied by cryptic message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to annex the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the North Atlantic alliance, triggered swift and firm condemnation from Denmark's officials.

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. US security is also Greenland’s and our security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the North."

The ambassador additionally highlighted that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget recently, earmarking a large amount specifically for Northern and regional defence. "And yes, we demand full respect for the sovereign borders of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Moves and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were further exacerbated by the recent appointment of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the president, stating it was an "privilege" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's actions, connecting it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since assuming office, the US president has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future resource extraction. It currently hosts the most northerly US air base.

Refusing to Rule Out Military Action

In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during growing 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 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 international security."

Growing Friction and Local Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of threats, Denmark's 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 joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You cannot annex other countries."

Public opinion in Greenland shows a complex sentiment. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously little to no desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to declare independence for over a decade.

Expert Assessment: A Credible Scenario?

Some analysts are now reconsidering the possibility of such a action. One policy analyst specializing in defence conceded she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "currently 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 do anything about it," she concluded.