American Attack on Venezuela Fuels Concerns of Potential Greenland Acquisition.

The latest US-led military action in Venezuela and the seizure of its president have renewed unease regarding America's ambitions on Greenland. Members of the former president's political movement have reportedly turned their attention to the vast island in the wake of the events in the southern hemisphere.

Provocative Messages and Official Backlash

Merely a short time following the initiation of the Caracas campaign, a prominent conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a senior presidential aide, shared a symbolic map. The graphic depicted Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word caption: "SOON."

This overt threat to claim the resource-abundant land, which is a member of the NATO alliance, triggered immediate and firm condemnation from Danish representatives.

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such. American security is equally Greenland’s and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador additionally pointed out that Denmark had substantially boosted its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "Furthermore, we demand complete respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he added.

Political Moves and Strategic Goals

The situation were additionally complicated by the previous appointment of a US state governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The appointee had openly thanked the commander-in-chief, saying it was an "honour" to serve in a volunteer role to "make Greenland a part of the US."

Following the military action in Venezuela, this envoy commended the administration's actions, linking it to the broader "fight against narcotics."

Ever since returning to office, the American leader has repeatedly alarmed transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The island is considered critically important for defence and potential resource extraction. It currently houses the northernmost US military base.

Leaving the Door Open to Force

In a significant media appearance, the president declined to rule out the use of armed action to acquire Greenland. This stance comes amid 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 characterized Greenland as having a "very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for global security."

Mounting Friction and Local Resistance

In reaction to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the unprecedented step last month of classifying the United States as a "security risk."

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

Surveys in Greenland shows a nuanced sentiment. While a vast majority of the territory's inhabitants desire independence from Copenhagen, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for over a decade.

Analyst View: A Plausible Scenario?

Military analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously 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 inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could do anything about it," she observed.