US Attack on Venezuela Fuels Fears of Future Danish Territory Takeover.

Recent US-led military action in Venezuela and the capture of its president have renewed worry regarding Washington's ambitions on Greenland. Supporters of the ex-president's political movement have reportedly focused on the resource-rich island in the wake of the events in South America.

Provocative Posts and Diplomatic Outrage

Only hours after the commencement of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known conservative commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House adviser, posted a symbolic image. The picture showed Greenland draped with the American flag, with the single-word message: "COMING."

This overt suggestion to claim the mineral-rich land, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Denmark's officials.

"We are strong partners and should keep work together as such. American security is also the Arctic's and Denmark’s security," declared the Danish ambassador to the United States. "Our nation and the US work together to guarantee security in the North."

The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had substantially increased its defence spending this year, earmarking a substantial amount expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect full recognition for the territorial integrity of the our realm," he added.

Administrative Moves and Strategic Interests

The tensions were additionally complicated by the previous naming of a Southern governor as a special envoy to Greenland. The governor had publicly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to serve in a unpaid capacity to "bring Greenland into the US."

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

Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic allies with his stated desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and future resource extraction. It currently houses the most northerly US military base.

Refusing to Rule Out Force

In a significant television interview, the leader refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This position comes amid intensifying global 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 "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll cherish them... But we need that for international security."

Mounting Tensions and Local Opposition

In response to this constant "rhetoric" of intent, Denmark's intelligence service took the extraordinary step last month of labelling 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 cannot take over other countries."

Surveys in Greenland reveals a nuanced picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants seek independence from Denmark, there is also little to no appetite to join the United States. The territory has had the option to seek independence for over a decade.

Analyst Assessment: A Plausible Scenario?

Military experts are now reconsidering the likelihood of such a action. One policy analyst focusing in defence conceded she had previously dismissed 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 inside of Greenland, and it's unclear to me who could intervene about it," she observed.