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

The recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its leader have ignited worry regarding Washington's designs on the Arctic territory. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly set their sights on the resource-rich landmass in the wake of the operations in South America.

Inflammatory Messages and Official Outrage

Merely hours after the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is married to a senior White House aide, shared a symbolic image. The graphic depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."

This overt suggestion to claim the resource-abundant region, which is a member of the North Atlantic alliance, provoked swift and strong criticism from Danish officials.

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "The Kingdom of Denmark and the US collaborate to guarantee security in the Arctic."

The diplomat additionally highlighted that Denmark had significantly increased its defence spending this year, allocating a substantial amount specifically for Arctic and North Atlantic defence. "Furthermore, we demand full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Appointments and Geopolitical Interests

The tensions were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had publicly thanked the president, saying it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved European partners with his stated interest in Greenland. The island is considered vitally strategic for national security and future mineral exploitation. It currently houses the northernmost US air base.

Leaving the Door Open to Military Action

In a notable television interview, the leader declined to exclude the use of military force to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes during 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 stated.

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

Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Resistance

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

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland issued a joint and stern rebuke: "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 overwhelming percentage of the territory's inhabitants desire self-rule from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant desire to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.

Expert View: A Credible Threat?

Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One thinktank analyst specializing in military analysis conceded she had once dismissed the rhetoric but was "currently not so sure."

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