American Military Operation on Caracas Fuels Fears of Future Greenland Takeover.

The recent American bombardment in the South American nation and the seizure of its president have ignited apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's political movement have allegedly set their sights on the resource-rich island following the operations in South America.

Provocative Posts and Official Backlash

Merely a short time following the start of the Caracas campaign, a well-known right-wing podcaster, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland draped with the stars and stripes, with the cryptic message: "COMING."

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

"Denmark and the US are strong partners and should keep cooperate as such. American security is also Greenland’s and our security," stated the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic."

The diplomat additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large amount specifically for Northern and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he emphasized.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Goals

The situation were further complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly thanked the president, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Since assuming office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his expressed interest in Greenland. The territory is viewed as vitally strategic for defence and future mineral exploitation. It already hosts the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Growing Tensions and Local Resistance

In response to this constant "rhetoric" of threats, Denmark's intelligence service took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

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

Public opinion in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's residents seek independence from Copenhagen, 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?

Some experts are increasingly re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy director focusing in defence admitted she had previously discounted the sabre-rattling but was "currently not so sure."

"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a couple hundred or a couple thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me who could intervene about it," she concluded.